Improvement in folding coops



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES OCONNOE, OF JACKSON, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO JOHN B. WHEELER AND JOHN V. PRIEST, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT l N FOLDING COOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,878, dated May 23, 1876 application filed April 4, 1876.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES OOoNNoR, of Jackson, in the county of Cape Girardeau and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chicken-(loops; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective, and Fig. 2 a sectional view, of my invention.

The object of my invention is to provide, forthe reception of poultry or otherstook, a coop or cage which, being constructed in sections, may be readily taken apart and folded for transportation, and conveniently and quickly set up for use. p

My invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which show a coop or cage constructed according to my improved plan, A designates a flat bottom, to which are attached the transverse bars or cleats B B B, located, respectively, at either end and at the middle of said bottom.

0 O, &c., are posts, pivoted near their lower ends to the bars B B B, and adapted to lie horizontally when the coop is folded, and to stand upright when the same is set up for use. When so set up the lower ends of said uprights occupy recesses c'in the side edges of the bottom, and are thus retained or braced firmly, the backs of the recesses serving as stops to prevent the uprights from leaning outwardly.

D D are horizontal slats secured to the sides of said uprights, leaving the usual interstices above, below, and between them, as shown.

The upper ends of the uprights are tenoned at a, to receive the top section of the coop, which consists of the horizontal slats D and cross-bars B B the former running lengthwise, at regular intervals apart, the latter corresponding in width with the width of the side slats.

'or guard to close said opening.

The outermost of the top slats have holes ,at m to receive the tenons a, and the latter The ends of the coop are composed of the horizontal slats D secured to uprights E, which latter are tenoned on both ends, to fit mortises at e e in the cross-bars B B of the top and bottom. Retaining-pins a are also inserted through the tenons on upper ends of posts E. The slats D D are arranged so as to intersect at, their ends.

F is an opening in the top of the coop for the entrance and exit of the fowl. G is a bolt This bolt is held in place by loops gg on the ends ofposts h, which are pivoted to a bar, 1', attached to the bottom of the coop. One end of said bolt is tenoned and fits the loop 9. Near the other end is a slot or mortise, k, through which passes the loop g, to receive a key or wedge, l. The lower ends of the posts h, when said posts are raised, lie in recesses m in the bottom A, and are thereby suit-ably braced.

In folding the coop, the top is first removed. The end sections are then lifted, and laid outer sides downward upon the bottom A. Posts h are now folded inwardly, and the side sections turned down toward the center, after which the top section is placed over all, the slats D fitting snugly in interstices of said top, and rendering all compact.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The coop composed of the base A, sides, ends, and top D D D entrance F, and bolt G, with folding posts It and loops 9 g, substantially as described and shown.

2. The bolt G and posts It, with loops 9 g, in combination with the coop, having the en'- t-rancc-opening F, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of March, 1876.

Witnesses:

Gr. 0. PEPPER, T. F. WHEELER. 

